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How China is taking some Responsibility for Pollution

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How China is taking some Responsibility for Pollution

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This source is about China beginning to take responsibility for the current state of the environment regardless of what the U.S. president says. China use to believe that climate change was a hoax concocted by the western world to prevent China's economic development. However after intense global pressure, China began to realize the effect of prioritizing the economy and industry over the environment. Dirtier cities, polluted air and water and shorter lives are only a few examples. This article was helpful in determining the outcome in that it suggests that the outside world can have an impact on China and its' policies. It also suggests that the general public of other countries should be worried and informed about what is happening around the world. China is learning that what happens in their country concerning the environment will be scrutinized by the rest of the world.

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Twenty years ago, climate change was believed by many in Beijing to be a conspiracy cooked up by the western world to contain China's development.

Since then, China has performed an about-turn, not only recognising climate change as a major global challenge but also, ahead of Davos this week, vowing to lead the world's effort in combating it.

The election of Donald Trump, who, labelling climate change a "hoax" created by China, has reversed the conspiracy, casts a dark shadow on the prospect of future international climate cooperation. But for China, now could be a moment of opportunity.

Since the catastrophic Copenhagen failure in 2009, China has anchored climate actions at the core of its political agenda. There are three main reasons for this, and over the next four years, they will be the drivers that will propel China's climate action forward regardless of the political situation in the US.

First, the calculus of cost and benefit has shifted.

For a long time, environmental protection was positioned on the opposite side of economic prosperity - the pursuit of one could only sacrifice the other. In China, this binary has fallen apart, as the enormous health impacts of air pollution have galvanised both political and public opinion against polluting industry, and as the booming clean energy industry shows the possibility to make both environmentally and economically sound investments.

Second, China feels an increased - and increasing - sense of global responsibility, as displayed in phrase after phrase of Xi Jinping's speeches in Davos and Geneva this week. Beijing was quick to learn from its mistakes in Copenhagen. In the run up to the Paris conference, it managed to forge consensus on the most difficult political questions with other key players ahead of time.

Many of these political breakthroughs, such as on common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) and the issue of transparency, will require China to move beyond its previous positions and take more ambitious action. In addition, China has started to implement its own south-south cooperation scheme, aimed at helping other developing countries to pursue climate action. China is slowly but surely re-defining its international responsibilities and shifting to a more active and cooperation oriented climate diplomacy.

Third, China's leaders have started to take ownership of combating climate change.

This new dynamic could bear promising prospects over the next few years. US-China cooperation on climate in the Obama era helped to elevate climate change to the very top of the Chinese leadership's agenda. This has ensured the unprecedented direct engagement of the Chinese leaders for multiple years, and not only familiarised them with the technicality and politics of climate change, but also allowed them to see the strategic value it can generate.

With Xi soon entering his second five-year tenure, he might well take a leaf out of the outgoing US president's book and try to secure climate action as one of his political legacies. This could mean further investment in and greater leadership on climate action.

These three reasons, coupled with the fundamental trend of China's economic transition and the associated coal consumption decline, present a real opportunity for China to project further international leadership on climate change.

What China urgently needs now is a comprehensive strategy that sets climate change as a diplomatic priority. For the past years, China's policy circle primarily considered climate change through the lens of managing US-China relations and as an issue subordinate to the most important bilateral relationship in the world.

As the political winds shift in Washington, climate change now deserves an independent strategy that takes into account but is not dependent on the US-China relationship. Chinese leaders should be confident in such an approach and not underestimate the country's potential for global leadership. The establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the One Belt, One Road initiative both demonstrate that, when the issue is given political priority, China is not only able to participate in international diplomacy, but can also actively lead.

None of these is to say China should step in for the US. Climate change is a crisis larger than any single country. And it is neither feasible nor fair to expect other countries to fill the hole left by the US. But for China, if what it takes to move from a climate villain to a reluctant leader is the short five years of the first half of this decade, it is not completely unreasonable to expect the country to become a true leader by the end of this decade.

As Trump drops Obama's legacy, Xi might well establish one of his own.

Li Shuo is Greenpeace's east Asia senior climate policy adviser based in Beijing.
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China eyes an opportunity to take ownership of climate change fight

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Twenty years ago, climate change was believed by many in Beijing to be a conspiracy cooked up by the western world to contain China's development. Since then, China has performed an about-turn, not only recognising climate change as a major global challenge but also, ahead of Davos this week, vowing to lead the world's effort in combating it.

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The target audience for my project is split between the general public in developed countries and Chinese leaders in China. The Chinese leaders are the ones that have control over the laws and regulations concerning pollution. They also have let pollution get wildly out of hand in their country, and are the most likely to do something about it. The general public in developed countries normally does not have that much contact with out of hand pollution, and therefore can learn about this problem from multiple sources. Then, as the population of the country begins to be more informed on the problem, they begin to pressure the leaders of the country to do something about it. The leaders will then reach out to countries like China in order to help them to begin to solve the problem.

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This source explores the impact that pollution has had on 3 rivers in China. Encompassing 50 different compounds found in China's rivers, this article illustrates the connections between heavy industry in China and the severe levels of pollution in rivers. Concentrated together during the dry season, these compounds can be lethal. Differently then in other articles, this article included the formula that was used to determine the concentration of compounds, as well as their names. This article was very quick to the point and easy to comprehend, as well as dropping clues about a target audience, one that has the power to change this trend.

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Distribution and potential ecological risk of 50 phenolic compounds in thre...: EBSCOhost

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This article outlines how developed countries around the world have responded to pollution. Each city featured in this article has a different way of confronting the pollution problem. This article mostly has only cities from developed countries, however does represent developing countries such as India and Brazil. Even some of the most polluted counties in the world understand that they need to change their ways and begin protecting the environment, with the example from this article being India. More developed countries understand that they need to step up and provide an example for the rest of the world, highlighting the pollution problem. They use their resources to improve their surrounding environment, ensuring their citizens can life lives that are as healthy as possible. Evidence such as how so solve pollution problems was gathered from this source to support the final outcome.

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Paris bans cars in many historic central districts at weekends, imposes odd-even bans on vehicles, makes public transport free during major pollution events and encourages car- and bike-sharing programmes. A long section of the Right Bank of the river Seine is now car-free and and a monthly ban on cars has come into force along the Champs-Elysées.
Delhi
Reports that pollution levels in Delhi matched those in Beijing spurred the city to ban all new large diesel cars and SUVs with engines of more than 2,000CC and to phase out tens of thousands of diesel taxis. The city has experimented with alternately banning cars with odd and even number plates and is now encouraging Uber-style minibuses on demand. Other cities considering diesel bans are Dublin and Brussels.
The Netherlands
Politicians want to ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars from 2025, allowing only electric or hydrogen vehicles. The proposed new law would allow anyone who already owns a petrol or diesel car to continue using it. Most cities encourage bicycle use.
Freiburg
Freiburg in Germany has 500km of bike routes, tramways, and a cheap and efficient public transport system. One suburb, Vauban, forbids people to park near their homes and makes car-owners pay €18,000 for a space on the edge of town. In return for living without a car, people are offered cheaper housing, free public transport, and plentiful bicycle spaces.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen prioritises bikes over cars and now has more cycles than people. The city calculates that one mile on a bike is worth $0.42 [27p] to society, while one mile in a car is a 15p ($0.20) loss. Large parts of the Danish capital have been closed to vehicles for decades and the city plans to become carbon neutral by 2025.
Oslo
Oslo plans to halve its climate emissions by 2020 and proposes a large no-car zone, the building of 40 miles of new bike lanes, steep congestion charges, a rush-hour fee for motorists, and the removal of many parking spaces.
Helsinki
The Finnish capital plans to drastically reduce the number of cars on its streets by investing heavily in better public transport, imposing higher parking fees, encouraging bikes and walking and converting inner city ring roads into residential and walking areas. The idea is to make the city's public transport so good that no one will want a car by 2050.

Zurich has capped the number of parking spaces in the city, only allows a certain number of cars into the city at any one time, and is building more car-free areas, plazas, tram lines and pedestrianised streets. The result has been a dramatic reduction in traffic jams, and less pollution.
Curitiba
The southern Brazilian city of 2 million people has one of the biggest and lowest cost bus systems in the world. Nearly 70% of the city goes to work by public transport and the result is pollution-free air and traffic-free streets.
Bangalore
The Indian city is converting its 6,000 buses to compressed natural gas and discouraging the car. So far, says the city, it has reduced traffic pollution by about 20% in a few years and one in four people who used to travel by car now use public transport.

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How are cities around the world tackling air pollution?

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More cycling, better public transport and car bans - cities from Delhi to Zurich are using a range of initiatives to lower traffic pollution and improve health

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Although very short, this source has quite a bit of information on pollution caused by the coal mining industry in China. One very interesting statistic from the source was about a fifth of samples taken at the coal site had associated high risks as a result of Hg contamination levels. Hg of course refers to mercury, which is very harmful to be exposed to for extended periods of time. This could be one factor contributing to health issues among Chinese citizens in mining. Also, the article mentioned that coal dust was another likely cause of respiratory health problems among Chinese citizens living in mining cities.

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Contamination and health risks of heavy metals in street dust from a coal-m...: EBSCOhost

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Some places of the world are viewed as pristine, and completely natural. As this source shows, that is not the case. Even places so remote like the Arctic are not immune to pollution. Garbage from around the world collects on the shores, and impacts the wildlife in drastic ways, as shown in pictures throughout the article. Garbage with names of towns  located in places like Florida wash up on the shores of Norway, over 4,500 miles away. Connected with the decline of sea ice in the article, researchers worry about the impact less ice and more garbage will have on the animals that live in the arctic. As mentioned in the article, due to the lack of systematic surveys of plastic in the Arctic, officials who can help the problem turn a blind eye as there is not enough proof, in their eyes. This helped determine the target audience of the Outcome, as the article has a clear point that only politicians can help solve the pollution problems.

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Plastic waste is building up in the supposedly pristine wilderness of the Norwegian Arctic, scientists say.

Researchers are particularly concerned about huge concentrations of microplastic fragments in sea ice.

They say they've found plastic litter almost everywhere in the Arctic they have looked.

Norwegian fishermen are worried that their fish stocks may lose their reputation for being untouched by pollution.

Most of the large plastic waste there comes from discarded fishing gear.

And boat owners admit it will take hundreds of years to overcome a few reckless decades of using the sea as a dump.

Norway's environment minister says politicians in the past haven't fully registered the extent of the problem.

A synthesis report from the Norwegian Polar Institute to the recent Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø says there's a great need for more research into the extent of possible harm from plastic.

It says effects have been monitored so far on zooplankton, invertebrates, fish, seabirds, and mammals.

Research shows that up to 234 particles have been found concentrated into just one litre of melted Arctic sea ice. That's much higher than in the open ocean.

Researchers explain that sea ice forms from the top. By unfortunate coincidence, plastic particles also float at the surface, so they get bonded into the ice as it freezes.

They are not yet sure how much of a threat this presents.

But they are worried about the impact on Arctic wildlife if the particles are released as sea ice continues to shrink.

Geir Wing Gabrielsen, one of the paper's authors, told BBC News: "We are finding more and more plastic waste in Svalbard, where I work. "The northern fulmar breeds in Svalbard.

"At the end of the 1970s we found very few plastic in their stomachs. In 2013 when we last investigated, some had more than 200 pieces of plastic in their stomachs.

"Other creatures are getting entangled in nets washed up on beaches - like reindeer. Some die because they can't release their antlers - we find them every year."

He said in southern Norway pollution was dominated by plastics from the home - but in Svalbard 80% of it comes from fishing activities, local and distant.

Surveys suggest that fishing crews are increasingly aware of their responsibilities now.

Jan Roger Lerbukt, manager of Hermes Fishing in Tromsø told me: "In the past 20 years I've seen a change in awareness in everyone towards protecting the environment.

"Fishing has been in our soul for thousands of years. If there's any environmental threat to the fish it's also a threat to our livelihood and that's a big concern.

"We have a reputation for a pure product and we don't want that damaged."

He agreed that trawler crews used to throw tangled nets overboard, but says they now they return them to harbour.

He says they also salvage plastic litter they catch, under a scheme called Fishing for Litter.

More and more crews are using paper packaging and moving away from plastic tape, he said.

But on a short walk along a plastic-strewn beach in Skulsfjord near Tromsø, I found clear evidence of fishing ropes still being deliberately cut.

And in the open water, "ghost nets" are easy to find.

Bo Eide, an environment consultant for Tromsø Council, conducts litter-picking on the beaches.

"People see the pictures in brochures of the pristine Arctic and they book their holidays to come here," he tells me.

"They're sometimes rather shocked to find that the Arctic in close-up is no longer how it looks in the brochures."

Norway's environment Minister Ola Elvestuen told BBC News: "It's disturbing - there's nowhere on Earth that's so far away that its not affected by plastics.

"This should be a call for action. It's been known about for years, but the magnitude of it hasn't been taken in as it should have been. We must stop the plastic pollution."

Researchers say there's been no systematic microplastics survey of all parts of the Arctic. They hope to compile an inventory, potentially with the help of "citizen scientists".

Follow Roger on Twitter.

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Plastic waste is building up in the supposedly pristine wilderness of the Norwegian Arctic, scientists say. Researchers are particularly concerned about huge concentrations of microplastic fragments in sea ice. They say they've found plastic litter almost everywhere in the Arctic they have looked.

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This article is about the causes and effects of pollution. From coal to plastic to radioactive material, waste damages the environment the humans and animals depend on to survive. If pollution continues at the rate it is at now,  many problems will arise concerning life on Earth as we know it. This source is good for individuals that are unfamiliar with pollution and hazardous waste who want understand the basics. This article is intended for all, it is not targeted at any specific audience, its' purpose is simply to inform. Not only limited to what pollution is, this article also connects pollution to mankind, and how one ends up effecting the other.

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Pollution, we probably hear of this term every other day at school, college, and offices. We also come across the term in newspapers, online journals, and media in general. So what is it and why is it deemed harmful?

Pollution occurs when pollutants contaminate the natural surroundings; bringing about changes that affect our normal lifestyles adversely.

Pollutants are the key elements or components of pollution which are generally waste materials of different forms.

Pollution disturbs our ecosystem and the balance in the environment. With modernization and development in our lives, pollution has reached its peak; giving rise to global warming and human illness.

Different Forms of Pollution

Pollution occurs in different forms; air, water, soil, radioactive, noise, heat/ thermal, and light.

Every form of pollution has two sources of occurrence; the point and the non-point sources. The point sources are easy to identify, monitor, and control, whereas the non-point sources are hard to control.

To understand this occurrence better, let us now discuss the different types of pollution and their effects on mankind and the environment in general.

Major Types of Pollution Affecting Our Planet

Following is a list of the different types of Pollution that evidently destroy us and our earth.

1. Air Pollution

While there are many types of pollution, Air Pollution is probably the most prominent and dangerous form of it. Pollution may occur due to many reasons. Here's a brief list.

Burning of Fuel

Excessive burning of fuel which is a necessity of our daily lives for cooking, driving, and other industrial activities; releases a huge amount of chemical substances in the air every day. Over time, these substances pollute the air.

Chimney Smoke

Another common cause of air pollution may be attributed to the smoke from chimneys, factories, vehicles, or the burning of wood. These activities, individually and collectively release sulfur dioxide into the air thereby making it toxic.

The effects of air pollution are evident too. The release of sulfur dioxide and other hazardous gases into the air causes global warming and acid rain; which in turn lead to increased temperatures, erratic rains, and droughts worldwide.

These effects don't just debilitate the lives of humans, but they also end up making it tough for the animals to survive.

As humans, we breathe in every polluted particle from the air which results in the potential chances of asthma and lung cancer. Either way, unless we address this issue, it may take a bigger and worse shape.

2. Water Pollution

Water Pollution has taken a toll on all the surviving species of the earth. Almost 60% of the species live in water bodies and when the water is polluted, it severely impacts their lives and hinders their health in general. But what are the specific causes of water pollution? Let's take a closer look.

Industrial Waste

Water pollution may occur due to multiple factors. One of the biggest instances may be industrial water pollution where the industrial wastes are dumped into the rivers and other water bodies thereby causing an imbalance in the water. Over time, it leads to severe contamination thereby resulting in the death of aquatic species.

If you suspect that nearby water sources have been contaminated by a corporation then it might be a good idea to hire an expert to see your options.

Groundwater Pollution

Water pollution may also be caused when insecticides and pesticides like DDT are sprayed on plants. While this may not seem much, over time, this simple activity pollutes the groundwater system which most of us use. If left unchecked for long, the same groundwater will turn out to be hazardous, leading to a range of health issues in the long run.

Note that in addition to the spraying of pesticides, groundwater may also be polluted from the toxic chemical spills occurring from industrial operations.

Oil spills in the oceans too have caused irreparable damage to the water bodies. Oil spills are usually caused due to accidents from large ships, tankers, or any other form of an oil pipeline.

Eutrophication

Eutrophication is another big source of water pollution, it occurs due to daily activities like washing clothes, utensils near lakes, ponds, or rivers; this forces detergents to go into the water which blocks sunlight from penetrating, thus reducing oxygen and making it inhabitable.

Water pollution not only harms the aquatic beings but it also contaminates the entire food chain by severely affecting humans dependent on these. Water-borne diseases like cholera, diarrhea have also increased in all places.

3. Soil Pollution

Soil pollution occurs due to the incorporation of unwanted chemicals in the soil due to human activities. The use of insecticides and pesticides absorbs the nitrogen compounds from the soil making it unfit for plants to derive nutrition from.

The release of industrial waste, mining, and deforestation also exploits the soil. Since plants can't grow properly, they can't hold the soil which in turn leads to soil erosion.

4. Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is caused when noise which is an unpleasant sound affects our ears and leads to psychological problems like stress, hypertension, hearing impairment, etc. It is caused by machines in industries, loud music, noise from traffic, noise fro construction activities, and so on.

As with the other forms of pollution, noise pollution is extremely dangerous and can lead to multiple fatalities in both humans and animals.

In humans, it affects our overall well-being, sleep, and total hours of rest. It may also adversely impact the development of kids and create an imbalance in the blood pressure and heart rate of elderly individuals.

5. Radioactive Pollution

Radioactive pollution is highly dangerous when it occurs. It can occur due to nuclear plant malfunctions, improper nuclear waste disposal, accidents, etc. It causes cancer, infertility, blindness, defects at the time of birth; it can sterilize soil and affect air and water.

6. Thermal/Heat Pollution

Thermal/heat pollution is due to the excess heat in the environment creating unwanted changes over long time periods; due to the huge number of industrial plants, deforestation, urban sprawl, and air pollution. It increases the earth's temperature, causing drastic climatic changes and extinction of wildlife.

Thermal pollution can result in an increase in temperature and can prove to be disastrous for humans and wildlife. The increase in temperature can make wildlife populations vulnerable and they may never be able to recover.

7. Light Pollution

Light pollution occurs due to prominent excess illumination of an area. It is largely visible in big cities, on advertising boards and billboards, in sports or entertainment events at the night.

In residential areas, the lives of the inhabitants are greatly affected by this. It also affects astronomical observations and activities by making the stars almost invisible.

Serious Effects of Pollution on Our Humans and Environment

1. Environment Degradation

The environment is the first casualty for the increase in pollution weather in air or water. The increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog which can restrict sunlight from reaching the earth.

This very scenario affects the process of photosynthesis in plants, thereby hindering their growth. Gases like Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can also cause acid rain. Again, water pollution in terms of the oil spill may lead to the death of several wildlife species.

2. Human Health

The decrease in the quality of air leads to several respiratory problems including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain, congestion, throat inflammation, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease are some of the diseases that can be caused by air pollution.

Water pollution occurs due to contamination of water and may pose skin related problems including skin irritations and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress, and sleep disturbance.

It is worth noting that while the results of pollution tend to vary, it has one specific impact: degrading the quality of human life. Pollution has an adverse impact on humans in general and regardless of its extent, all of us have encountered its ill-effects at some point of time or the other.

3. Global Warming

The emission of greenhouse gases particularly CO2 is leading to global warming. Every other day new industries are being set up, new vehicles come on roads and trees are cut to make way for new homes.

All of them, in a direct or indirect way, lead to an increase in CO2 in the environment. The increase in CO2 leads to the melting of polar ice caps which increases the sea level and pose danger for the people living near coastal areas.

It is worth noting that Global Warming is almost entirely caused by humans and unless we check our pollution levels, it can completely destroy the world as we know it.

While Global Warming is already a reality, when it becomes even more pronounced over the next few years, we will possibly encounter the worst. There'll be fluctuations in temperature, a significant and persistent temperature rise, forest fires, and so much more.

4. Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is the thin shield high up in the sky that stops ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. As a result of human activities, chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are released into the atmosphere thereby contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer.

5. Infertile Land

Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil may become infertile. Plants may not be able to grow properly. Various forms of chemicals produced from industrial waste are released into the flowing water which also affects the quality of the soil.

Bottom Line

Pollution not only affects humans by destroying their respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems; it also affects the nature, plants, fruits, vegetables, rivers, ponds, forests, animals, etc, on which they are highly dependent on survival. It is crucial to control pollution as nature, wildlife and human life are precious gifts to mankind.

Remember, unless we embrace sustainable living, go green, and take tangible steps to lie with less- our world is likely to witness dramatic transformations due to pollution. So, follow the right guidelines and take the right steps to make way for a better world.
Resources: Air Pollution Water Pollution Thermal Pollution
About Rinkesh

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Various Types and Effects of Pollution - Conserve Energy Future

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Pollution, we probably hear of this term every other day at school, college, and offices. We also come across the term in newspapers, online journals, and media in general. So what is it and why is it deemed harmful? Pollution occurs when pollutants contaminate the natural surroundings; bringing about changes that affect our normal lifestyles adversely.

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Travel  to the most polluted city on Earth and learn the hardships that the people living there face daily. This video is about pollution in China, and the impact it has had on the environment. Specifically about the city of Linfen, this documentary explores the problems behind the severe amounts of pollution that the citizens on Linfen live with daily. Widely viewed as the most polluted city by the rest of the world (including China), this city has terrible air conditions, and a life expectancy of 65 years, which is 10 years less then the Chinese national average. The coal industry is the driving force behind the pollution problems in Linfen, and well as the emissions released by the machines that mine and transport the coal.

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The Devastating Effects of Pollution in China (Part 1/2)

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The problem of hazardous waste is global, with every country worldwide having to deal with waste. This source has many startling statistics about the amount of waste in developing countries. These amounts of waste prevent these countries from developing, as their citizens cannot live or work safely due to the amount of pollution. Including examples from a global viewpoint, but generally focusing more on the U.S, this article offers examples of how developed countries such as the U.S. have worked to improve their hazardous waste disposal programs. Including specific data about the number of waste sites in the U.S and how many are federally run, the article compares the data to that of middle-to-low income countries, where this kind of data is rarely good, if it is even available at all.

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Received: 9 January 2017

Accepted: 26 September 2017

Published: 11 October 2017

Abstract

Waste is part of the agenda of the European Environment and Health Process and included among the topics of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health. Disposal and management of hazardous waste are worldwide challenges. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the evidence of the health impact of hazardous waste exposure, applying transparent and a priori defined methods. The following five steps, based on pre-defined systematic criteria, were applied. 1. Specify the research question, in terms of "Population-Exposure-Comparators-Outcomes" (PECO). Population: people living near hazardous waste sites; Exposure: exposure to hazardous waste; Comparators: all comparators; Outcomes: all diseases/health disorders. 2. Carry out the literature search, in Medline and EMBASE. 3. Select studies for inclusion: original epidemiological studies, published between 1999 and 2015, on populations residentially exposed to hazardous waste. 4. Assess the quality of selected studies, taking into account study design, exposure and outcome assessment, confounding control. 5. Rate the confidence in the body of evidence for each outcome taking into account the reliability of each study, the strength of the association and concordance of results.

Fifty-seven papers of epidemiological investigations on the health status of populations living near hazardous waste sites were selected for the evidence evaluation. The association between 95 health outcomes (diseases and disorders) and residential exposure to hazardous waste sites was evaluated. Health effects of residential hazardous waste exposure, previously partially unrecognized, were highlighted. Sufficient evidence was found of association between exposure to oil industry waste that releases high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide and acute symptoms. The evidence of causal relationship with hazardous waste was defined as limited for: liver, bladder, breast and testis cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, asthma, congenital anomalies overall and anomalies of the neural tube, urogenital, connective and musculoskeletal systems, low birth weight and pre-term birth; evidence was defined as inadequate for the other health outcomes. The results, although not conclusive, provide indications that more effective public health policies on hazardous waste management are urgently needed. International, national and local authorities should oppose and eliminate poor, outdated and illegal practices of waste disposal, including illegal transboundary trade, and increase support regulation and its enforcement.

Keywords

Waste Hazardous waste Health Cancer Disease Congenital anomalies Review

Background

This paper presents a systematic review of the available literature on health effects of the residence in the vicinity of hazardous waste sites. Our aim was to evaluate the evidence of the association between exposure to hazardous waste and health outcomes.

The term "hazardous" waste is variously applied in different countries, loosely defining non-household waste that includes hazardous chemicals. In our search literature, we included the terms "hazardous", "toxic", "industrial" waste, excluding the papers about municipal landfills, which have no records of hazardous materials, incinerators, e-waste and radioactive waste disposals. The present review does not consider occupational studies.

Waste, and in particular hazardous waste, is one of the priority areas for the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and was in the agenda of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health [ 1].

Several investigations indicate poor and illegal waste management as the most important world-wide cause of contamination of soil and groundwater.

In January 2007, the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Priority List (NPL) included 1240 hazardous waste sites, comprising 157 federal facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated 41 million people were living within a 4-mile radius of an NPL site in 2007. Waste storage/treatment/disposal are the main activities in the 1684 present or past NPL sites across the country (31.5%), followed by manufacturing and industries (30.8%) [ 4].

In Europe, in 2014, 342,000 contaminated sites were identified (5.7 per 10,000 inhabitants). On the basis of the data provided by 33 countries, in 2011 the activities which contributed most to soil and groundwater contamination were waste disposal, including municipal and industrial waste (about 38% of the sites), and industrial and commercial activities (mining, oil extraction and production, power plants - about 34% of the contaminated sites) [ 5].

In this context, waste from end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment, so called "e-waste", is especially important. E-waste contains recognized hazardous substances that may be directly released or generated after disposal or during the recycling process. Unsafe recycling techniques in middle-low income African and Asian countries, where 75% and 80% of respectively EU- and USA-produced total e-waste is illegaly exported, involve high risks, primarly for workers, who are often children and women [ 12].

In recent years, investigations reporting a wide spectrum of health risks for local populations living in the areas surrounding hazardous waste dumping sites have been published. Still, an up-to-date evaluation of the evidence of the association between adverse health effects and hazardous waste is not available.

In 2000, a review of hazardous waste reported that the evidence of a causal relationship with cancers "is still weak", especially with regard to specific cancers reported in more than one study: leukemia, bladder, lung and stomach cancers [ 13]. A relationship was suggested with adverse pregnancy outcomes, i.e. low birth weight, total birth defects and cardiac, musculoskeletal and central nervous system defects. However, the authors considered that the studies were still too few to draw conclusions regarding causality.

In 2007, a WHO report on waste and health concluded: "Despite the methodological limitations, the scientific literature on the health effects of landfills provides some indication of the association between residing near a landfill site and adverse health effects. The evidence, somewhat stronger for reproductive outcomes than for cancer, is not sufficient to establish the causality of the association. However, in consideration of the large proportion of population potentially exposed to landfills in many European countries and of the low power of the studies to find a real risk, the potential health implications cannot be dismissed". The Report deals with landfills at large and not specifically with hazardous waste management; some case-studies, though, address this issue and recommendations about study design are provided [ 14].

A review on cancer epidemiology studies of populations resident close to toxic waste sites concluded that available studies provided valid hypotheses, but cannot determine whether residence near toxic waste sites causes an increased cancer risk [ 15].

In this context, a systematic review is presented to evaluate the evidence of health impact of hazardous waste exposure, applying a priori defined criteria.

Methods

A five-step process, as described by Woodruff, was followed: 1. Specify the research question; 2. Carry out the literature search, specifying the search strategy with sufficient detail so that it can be reproduced; 3. Select studies for inclusion, analyzing their compliance with a priori defined criteria; 4. Assess the quality of individual selected studies; 5. Rate the confidence in the body of evidence for each outcome [ 20]. In detail:

1. 1.

The research question was formulated in terms of "Population-Exposure-Comparators-Outcomes" (PECO): Population: people living near hazardous waste sites; Exposure: exposure to hazardous waste; Comparators: all comparators; Outcomes: all diseases/health disorders.

2. 2.

Search strategy: the search was conducted in Medline and EMBASE, on STN International (Information Service for research and patent information: stnk.fiz-karlsruhe.de), using both text-words (Table 1) and descriptors (Table 2) based on the above PECO question. Boolean operators were used to combine exposure and outcome terms, as reported in the tables. The search was limited to the articles published in the 1999-2015 period, i.e. after those considered in the review by Vrijheid et al. [ 13].

3. 3.

Select studies for inclusion. Original epidemiological studies on populations residentially exposed to hazardous waste were considered; the criteria for inclusion of articles in the review were defined a priori. Exclusion criteria based on types of waste were defined: urban waste (landfills/incinerators), e-waste and radioactive waste; the latter two because of their peculiarities (potentially released agents and affected sub-populations). Reviews and economic evaluations were not included in the evidence evaluation, but considered subsequently for discussion purposes. Biomonitoring and toxicological studies were not considered as part of the main body of primary evidence, but were retained for interpreting and evaluating the findings of epidemiological investigations.

MeSH descriptors

#2 Health outcomes

(EPIDEMIOLOGY/CT) a OR (MORTALITY/CT) b

EMtree descriptors

Each study identified in the initial literature search was assessed for inclusion independently by two investigators. Studies were included or excluded upon concordant assessment; a third investigator's opinion was used in case of discordant assessment.

4.

Assess the quality of individual studies. The full team of investigators established the reliability of each study. This step involved an evaluation of the possible role of chance (random error) and bias (systematic error), arising from flawed exposure and outcome assessment, confounding factors or study design leading to selection bias. A qualitative rating of these items (exposure and outcome assessment, confounding control) was included in the assessment and is reported in tables, with a notation ranging from "- -"to "+ +". The overall assessment was not univocally determined by these ratings, but reflected a final expert judgement of each paper's quality.

This evaluation was performed individually by one investigator per paper and, subsequently, discussed by the overall group. The reliability of each study was defined in 5 classes, from low (1) to high (5).

5.

Rate the strength of the body of evidence, for each outcome. The evaluation of the evidence of association between each health outcome and hazardous waste exposure was estimated taking into account the reliability of each study, the magnitude and the accuracy of the estimated association, and the concordance between study findings. The evidence was rated in three grades: Sufficient/Limited/Inadequate, partly derived from the approach used by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs [ 22], but specifically defined, as follows.

Sufficient: More than one study of high or moderate/high quality (rated 5-4) report positive findings with strong (high values of relative risk) and precise, overall consistent association. Alternative explanations, in particular the role of random variability, bias, confounding factors, can be reasonably excluded. The force of association, considerations on dose-response relationship, time coherence and biological plausibility further support causality.

Limited: More than one study of high or moderate/high quality (rated 5-4) report positive findings with strong (high values of relative risk) and precise association. Among the concurring different risk estimates, the results of higher quality studies was given higher weight. A role of random variability, bias and confounding factors may not be completely excluded.

Inadequate: Less than two studies of moderate or higher quality rate (rated 5-3) report findings of risk in excess; or, there are two or more studies of moderate/high quality, but the results in excess are not consistent and/or the associations are weak and inaccurate.

Results

Two thousand five hundred ninety three records were retrieved from MedLine and EMBASE text-word and descriptor searching; 913 of these were excluded because published before 1999.

Of the remaining 1680 records, 1461 were excluded on the basis of title and abstract, because not responding to the a priori defined PECO question. The abstracts of the resulting 219 papers were then evaluated independently by two investigators on the basis of the inclusion criteria. The results of this first evaluation were reviewed by the full team of investigators. 167 papers of epidemiological investigations on populations living near hazardous waste sites were selected. Following a review of the full-text of each study, 110 were considered not relevant and were excluded. 57 articles were eventually selected and underwent the evaluation of the strength of evidence (Fig. 1).

Most of the selected studies reported more than one health outcome. Altogether, the association between 95 health outcomes (diseases and disorders) and residential exposure to hazardous waste sites was reported on.

Discussion

The present review considers literature pertaining sites where hazardous waste was handled without control or suitable environmental management. These practices take place both in high and low-middle income countries. However, they occur more frequently in the latter, through illegal dumping of hazardous waste, or when waste dumping took place prior to the enforcement of environmental regulations, or in countries where there is no regulation. In some cases, hazardous waste can be unknowingly present in landfills.

The reliability of the majority of the studies were considered "moderate", primarily due to the limitations of exposure assessment based on the residence at outcome observation time. Data about the contaminants present in the waste site at the time of the study and in the surrounding residential environment was rarely available. When it was, a higher weight was assigned to the study.

Furthermore, the definition of hazardous waste limits comparability between studies. Hazardous waste includes a broad range of contaminants affecting different environmental matrices and involving several routes of exposure, depending on types of waste and hydrogeological and meteorological factors. These limitations tend to underestimate, rather than overestimate, the magnitude of health effects, thus diluting the evidence for specific types of hazardous waste exposure.

Hepatotoxic chemical agents can be both naturally occurring and synthetic; the latter comprise metals, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, chlorinated aromatic and nitro compounds that can, to various extents, be present in or released by hazardous waste [ 29]; hepatotoxicity can be related to hepatic carcinogenicity.

Our evaluation on liver cancer was based on the results of ten articles; some of them reported the presence of organic chlorinated compounds, such as vinyl chloride [ 30] and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, β-HCH [ 31], and of heavy metals, including arsenic [ 31]. Other studies [ 32, 33] regarded areas in which biomonitoring detected presence of dioxins in breast milk of women [ 34]. In the latter studies the synergistic effects between different risk factors, including B hepatitis virus and hazardous waste contaminants, may be reasonably hypothesized.

Some of the ten articles on bladder cancer considered in the present review reported the presence of contaminants associated with bladder cancer in the study areas. Heavy metals in soil and groundwater, and β-HCH in blood of some residents were reported in the Sacco river areas [ 31]; hexachlorocyclohexanes, benzylchlorides, organic sulfur compounds, chlorobenzenes, and sodium sulfide/sulfhydrates polluted the Love Canal site [ 36], where a biomonitoring study reported also trichlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene contamination [ 37]. Dioxins were detected in biomonitoring studies in Campania waste sites [ 34] located in towns where increased bladder cancer risk was reported [ 32, 33].

For testis cancer, IARC assessed limited evidence for DDT, diethylstilbestrol (exposure in utero), N,N-dimethylformamide, perfluorooctanoic acid; no agents were defined as associated with testis cancer with sufficient evidence [ 26]. An etiological role of exposure to endocrine disruptors in the onset of testis cancer was hypothesized [ 43] and suggested in some reviews [ 44, 45]. A possible association between endocrine disruptors and testicular cancer could be explained by the Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome, reflecting a hormonal imbalance due to environmental or life-style factors during early fetal development [ 40, 46, 47] and during puberty due to the ingestion of contaminated milk [ 47].

Among the five studies considered for pre-term birth evaluation only two were evaluated as high quality, and although the estimated risks were above unity for all the studies, none reached statistical significance, except in the study of Love Canal residents, who had a significant risk of pre-term birth compared to New York State reference rates. The overall results on pre-term birth, however, could reflect the studies' low statistical power and do not warrant an evaluation of evidence higher than limited.

Conclusions

The present review highlighted that there is sufficient evidence of association between exposure to oil industry waste releasing high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide and acute symptoms. The evidence of causal relationship with hazardous waste was defined as limited for: liver, bladder, breast and testis cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Among non-neoplastic diseases, asthma was found to be related to hazardous waste with limited evidence. We evaluated as limited the evidence of the association between the exposure to hazardous waste and adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight, pre-term birth, congenital anomalies overall and anomalies of the urogenital, connective and musculoskeletal systems. The evidence of a causal relationship was defined as inadequate for most other health outcomes.

The available evidence of the health effects of specific contaminants present in some hazardous waste corroborates our evaluation. In particular, drawing from the evidence described in the previous section: persistent organic pollutants, in particular benzene and those chlorinated, i.e. PCBs and dioxins (for liver, bladder and breast cancers, NHL and asthma), heavy metals, i.e. arsenic and its compounds (for NHL, liver and bladder cancers) and EDCs (for testis and breast cancers, CAs).

These data confirm that hazardous waste, if not suitably managed, might cause adverse health effects on populations living near the sites where they are dumped or processed. The contamination of different environmental matrices, including food, water, soil and air, represents a health risk for these populations. A strong contrast to illegal trade and the deployment of sound management practices is warranted as a priority - no further evidence is needed.

In several instances, however, further investigation is warranted to fill important knowledge gaps: in particular, population studies analysing different pathways of exposure, taking into account the characteristics of the site and the contaminants present in each waste site, might provide useful information. Acute respiratory diseases, diabetes and childhood neurological disorders are of particular interest, also in consideration of the strong indications that environmental exposures to EDCs and potential EDCs can cause cognitive and behavioural deficits in humans [ 40].

The results of our review, although not conclusive, provide indications that public health policies on hazardous waste management are urgently needed. International, national and local authorities should oppose and eliminate poor, outdated and illegal practices of waste disposal (including illegal transboundary trade), which still affect some communities in industrialized and middle-low income countries, and implement and enforce regulation. Compliance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is necessary to prevent high exposures and consequent health effects, particularly among the vulnerable and the poor [ 64].

Declarations

Acknowledgements

The Authors thank Anna Bastone, of the Unit of Enviornmental and Social Epidemiology of Istituto Superiore di Sanità, for her contribution in editorial assistance.

Funding

The publication costs will be borne by the Department of Environment and Health of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its Additional files].

Authors' contributions

LF: made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work, the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, the development of the draft and review of the manuscript. FM: made substantial contributions to the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, and review of the manuscript. MS: made substantial contributions to the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, and review of the manuscript. AC: made substantial contributions to the design and performance of the literature search, and review of the manuscript. MDS: made substantial contributions to the design of the literature search, and review of the manuscript. FB: made substantial contributions to the conception the work, analysis and interpretation of data, and review of the manuscript. PC: made substantial contributions to the conception the work, analysis and interpretation of data, and review of the manuscript. MM: made substantial contributions to the conception the work, interpretation of data, and review of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Additional files

Authors' Affiliations

(1)

Department of Environment and Health, Unit of Environmental and Social Epidemiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

(2)

Institute of Clinical Physiology, Unit of Environmental epidemiology and disease registries, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy

(3)

Documentation Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

(4)

Centre for Environment and Health, World Health Organization - Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany

References

1. International Agency for Research on Cancer. List of classification by cancer sites with sufficient or limited evidence in humans, Volumes 1 to 117. Last update 24 June 2016. https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/Table4.pdf . Accessed 3 Oct 2017.

2. Cogliano VJ, Baan R, Straif K, Grosse Y, Lauby-Secretan B, El Ghissassi F. et al.Preventable exposure associated with human cancers. J Natl Cancer Inst 2011; 103:1827-1839. doi:10.1093/jnci/djr483 .

3. Foster WG, Evans JA, Little J, Arbour L, Moore A, Sauve R, et al. Human exposure to environmental contaminants and congenital anomalies: a critical review. Clin Rev Toxicol. 2016:11-26. doi:10.1080/10408444.2016.1211090 .

See updates

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hazardous waste and health impact: a systematic review of the scientific literature

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Waste is part of the agenda of the European Environment and Health Process and included among the topics of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health. Disposal and management of hazardous waste are worldwide challenges. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the evidence of the health impact of hazardous waste exposure, applying transparent and a priori defined methods.

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Due to chemical spills and illegal dumping, environments around the world have been impacted by the mishandling of waste. Animals and humans alike have been impacted by chemicals in their drinking water, which can lead to reproduction problems and even death. Actions such as illegal dumping have changed the environment, possible irreparably. This article give examples of improper treatment of hazardous waste, and the consequences that can result from this. It also lists some regulations that countries (mainly the U.S), have for the disposal of hazardous waste. Also, the article explains of waste can make its was into the food supply, and impact humans, mainly children.

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Hazardous waste has many sources, and a long history of dangerous pollution. Here’s what you need to know.

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This article is all about informing the general public of what kinds of things hazardous waste can be, from common household items to radioactive materials. It lists some of the ways that hazardous material can be dealt with, and the flaws that each procedure comes with. Being able to identify what kinds of waste are hazardous and how they need to be dealt with is important for keeping a clean environment and a healthy lifestyle. The hazardous waste identification method that the article is focused around is especially helpful to the common citizen when they would like to know how to deal with a substance that they are not sure is hazardous or not. This article informs the reader not only of the disposal methods, but also of the possible recycling of certain materials

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Hazardous waste that is improperly managed poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), passed in 1976, was established to set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste.
On this page:
What is a Hazardous Waste?

Simply defined, a hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. Hazardous waste is generated from many sources, ranging from industrial manufacturing process wastes to batteries and may come in many forms, including liquids, solids gases, and sludges.

EPA developed a regulatory definition and process that identifies specific substances known to be hazardous and provides objective criteria for including other materials in the regulated hazardous waste universe. This identification process can be very complex, so EPA encourages generators of wastes to approach the issue using the series of questions described below:

Click on a step in the hazardous waste
identification process for more information.

In order for a material to be classified as a hazardous waste, it must first be a solid waste. Therefore, the first step in the hazardous waste identification process is determining if a material is a solid waste.

The second step in this process examines whether or not the waste is specifically excluded from regulation as a solid or hazardous waste.

Once a generator determines that their waste meets the definition of a solid waste, they investigate whether or not the waste is a listed or characteristic hazardous waste. Finally, it is important to note that some facilities petitioned EPA to delist their wastes from RCRA Subtitle C regulation. You can research the facilities that successfully petitioned EPA for a delisting in Appendix IX of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 261.

Select a question below to learn more about each step in the hazardous waste identification process.

1. Is the material in question a solid waste?

2. Is the material excluded from the definition of solid waste or hazardous waste?

3. Is the waste a listed or characteristic hazardous waste?

4. Is the waste delisted?

EPA's Cradle-to-Grave Hazardous Waste Management Program

In the mid-twentieth century, solid waste management issues rose to new heights of public concern in many areas of the United States because of increasing solid waste generation, shrinking disposal capacity, rising disposal costs, and public opposition to the siting of new disposal facilities. These solid waste management challenges continue today, as many communities are struggling to develop cost-effective, environmentally protective solutions. The growing amount of waste generated has made it increasingly important for solid waste management officials to develop strategies to manage wastes safely and cost effectively.

RCRA set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste. From this authority, EPA established a comprehensive regulatory program to ensure that hazardous waste is managed safely from "cradle to grave" meaning from the time it is created, while it is transported, treated, and stored, and until it is disposed:

Hazardous Waste Generation

Under RCRA, hazardous waste generators are the first link in the hazardous waste management system. All generators must determine if their waste is hazardous and must oversee the ultimate fate of the waste. Furthermore, generators must ensure and fully document that the hazardous waste that they produce is properly identified, managed, and treated prior to recycling or disposal. The degree of regulation that applies to each generator depends on the amount of waste that a generator produces.

EPA provides detailed online information about the regulations applicable to generators of hazardous wastes.

Hazardous Waste Transportation

After generators produce a hazardous waste, transporters may move the waste to a facility that can recycle, treat, store or dispose of the waste. Since such transporters are moving regulated wastes on public roads, highways, rails and waterways, United States Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations, as well as EPA's hazardous waste regulations, apply.

For more information on requirements pertaining to this issue, visit EPA's Web page on hazardous waste transportation.

Hazardous Waste Recycling, Treatment, Storage and Disposal

To the extent possible, EPA tried to develop hazardous waste regulations that balance the conservation of resources, while ensuring the protection of human health and environment. Many hazardous wastes can be recycled safely and effectively, while other wastes will be treated and disposed of in landfills or incinerators.

Recycling hazardous waste has a variety of benefits including reducing the consumption of raw materials and the volume of waste materials that must be treated and disposed. However, improper storage of those materials might cause spills, leaks, fires, and contamination of soil and drinking water. To encourage hazardous waste recycling while protecting health and the environment, EPA developed regulations to ensure recycling would be performed in a safe manner.

Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) provide temporary storage and final treatment or disposal for hazardous wastes. Since they manage large volumes of waste and conduct activities that may present a higher degree of risk, TSDFs are stringently regulated. The TSDF requirements establish generic facility management standards, specific provisions governing hazardous waste management units and additional precautions designed to protect soil, ground water and air resources.

Comprehensive information on the final steps in EPA's hazardous waste management program is available online, including Web pages and resources related to:

Regulations for Specific Wastes

EPA has tried, to the extent possible, to develop regulations for hazardous waste management that provide adequate protection of human health and the environment while at the same time:

Thus, EPA created alternative management standards, exclusions and exemptions for certain types of wastes including:

EPA Hazardous Waste Initiatives

After decades of experience with the current system, EPA is looking forward and examining how the hazardous waste program should evolve to meet the new challenges and opportunities of this century. EPA is leading the nation in moving toward that future now by:

Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
The Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Agenda) reports reports on the actions administrative agencies plan to issue in the near and long term. To learn more about future U.S. EPA initiatives, use the pull down list and select Environmental Protection Agency.

This Agenda represents rulemakings at the Federal level only. Since most states are authorized to implement the federal hazardous waste regulations, it is important to check out the website for your state environmental agency or contact them for the status of upcoming state rulemakings.

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Learn the Basics of Hazardous Waste | US EPA

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Hazardous waste that is improperly managed poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), passed in 1976, was established to set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste.

# data[].attributes.body
From this source I gained a basic understanding of the impacts of pollution on the environment. However, the environment is not the only thing impacted by pollution, as both the health of humans and animals. This article pointed that out skillfully, and had many statistics on how waste impacts human health. The statistics provided are very helpful to help comprehend the enormous problem that hazardous waste presents. This article was especially helpful as it has clearly listed all the effects pollution can have on the human body. Connected with each effect was a through explanation of how it could be contracted and why it could be contracted. This article also discussed how pesticides can be considered hazardous, and why they should be consumed at a person's own risk.

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by Chris Dinesen Rogers

Hazardous waste carries environmental risks and also health risks for humans and wildlife. Some pollutants such as mercury can accumulate in human and animal tissue, thus compounding their effects. Hazardous waste is primarily generated by industry and businesses. Although regulations exist, contamination still occurs. In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recorded 23 million cases of voluntary disclosure of pollution risks and opened 387 environmental criminal cases. As long as threats remain, health effects of hazardous waste will continue to occur.

Cancer

American farmers apply more than 300 million pounds of pesticides to farmlands each year. Of the 27 most commonly used pesticides, the EPA has classified 15 of them as carcinogens or cancer-causing agents. Cancer has also been linked to air pollution from industry as well as in the home. Radon, for example, is a radioactive by-product of uranium decay. Uranium is found within the Earth's crust and is everywhere in the environment. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer according to the National Cancer Institute.

Respiratory Conditions

A direct link exists between air pollution and respiratory conditions such as asthma. Exposure to hazardous waste from emissions irritates the mucous membranes of your mouth and throat. A 2008 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found that individuals merely living near a hazardous waste site had an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases.

Heart Disease

The risks of living near hazardous waste sites do not stop with increased risk for respiratory disease. A 2004 study published in the Archives of Environmental Health found an elevated risk of the development of congenital heart disease in the offspring of pregnant women living within one mile of a hazardous waste site. The threat is also more innocuous. Auto emissions also carry an increased risk of heart attack and stroke from thickening of arteries. Fossil-fuel emissions contain several toxins considered non-specific hazardous waste by the EPA. A non-specific hazardous waste is one without a readily identifiable source.

Exposure Effects

The health effects from some types of hazardous waste may be temporary, with no link to other conditions having been determined. Xylene, for example, is one of the most widely used chemicals in the United States. It is an ingredient found in paints, solvents, and varnishes. Although not considered a carcinogen, exposure to the chemical causes dizziness and headaches. A person may also experience stomach discomfort. At high levels, xylene may cause unconsciousness and even death.

References

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Numbers at a Glance

"Archives of Environmental Health"; Effect of Proximity to Hazardous Waste Sites on the Development of Congenital Heart Disease; S. Malik, A. Schecter, M. Caughy, and D.E. Fixler; April 2004

"Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences"; Asthma and Infectious Respiratory Disease in Relation to Residence near Hazardous Waste Sites; David O.Carpenter, Jing Ma, and Lawrence Lessner ; October 2008

About the Author

Chris Dinesen Rogers has been online marketing for more than eight years. She has grown her own art business through SEO and social media and is a consultant specializing in SEO and website development. Her past work experience includes teaching pre-nursing students beginning biology, human anatomy and physiology. Rogers's more than 10 years in conservation makes her equally at home in the outdoors.

Photo Credits

Smithore/iStock/Getty Images

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# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hazardous waste carries environmental risks and also health risks for humans and wildlife. Some pollutants such as mercury can accumulate in human and animal tissue, thus compounding their effects. Hazardous waste is primarily generated by industry and businesses. Although regulations exist, contamination still ...